Dual Dominance

-Joseph Barker

As the swimmers were swimming their cool down laps the PA announcer announced the final score of the just completed meet. Final score: Truman 123, Western Illinois 70 - for both the men and women. Truman's swim teams had just defeated another Div. I school, this time by identical scores.

The win gives the Men's team their fourth meet win in a row. With all the talk surrounding the dominating women's squad - and most of it deserving since they ARE the five-time defending National Champs - the men tend to get lost in the shuffel. But, these guys are good.

Just take a look at their results. Yes they have lost three duals this year, but two of those were too Div. I schools. For those not in the know, Truman is Div. II. Take out those two loses and you have a solid team. Maybe they won't be gunning for the National title like the women, but they are a good squad. And they are young too.

At today's senior day festivities the team said good bye to four members of the current squad, including national qualifier Josh Otis. However, they are only losing four guys, that still leaves a lot of talent. Just go up and down the roster and you will notice a lot of juniors and sophomores - a sign that maybe we could have something here. The point is, these guys are young and performing at a high level. Not many Div. II schools constantly take on Div. I schools. These guys could be primed to start a run like the women, maybe not this year but I have a feeling that the men might be something to look at these last few weeks of the season.

Maybe I am just seeing things I want to see, but maybe with some success and some strong recruiting by Coach Mark Gole, the team can be on par with the women and could have the potential to make Truman the swimming power of Div. II with both the men and women.

*Correction: According to Go Bulldogs the scores were actually 123-70 for the women and 116-77 for the men. Both teams still won, but I figured I should get the scores right. -Joe